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Transcript
0:00 · this is me on my way to a true wonder of the world
0:03 · something that has to be seen to be believed
0:06 · but also something that you've probably never heard of...
0:10 · I'm currently on a train hurtling through Tunisia on my way to the city of El Jem,
0:15 · which I've been told is home to a magnificent ancient Roman Amphitheater,
0:19 · and, yes, I didn't know that there was another Colosseum here in Africa,
0:23 · either, until I was planning this trip.
0:25 · by this point, I was just excited to go and see it,
0:27 · but I had no idea just how significant this place would end up being -
0:32 · not just in the ancient world,
0:33 · but also as a shooting location for movies that you probably have heard of.
0:38 · Pulling into El Jem, anticipation was really building for me,
0:41 · and as I stepped outside of the lovely old station building,
0:45 · and started to walk through the city,
0:47 · I almost reached into my pocket to check a map to see where I was supposed to go -
· The Amphitheater of El Jem, Tunisia
0:52 · until I noticed that that wouldn't actually be necessary:
0:56 · because no matter what street you go down in this busy town,
1:00 · you can't ignore the fact that you're being watched over by THIS.
1:05 · built in the 3rd century, roughly 400 years after the Romans destroyed
1:10 · Carthage and started their own Empire across Northern Africa,
1:14 · and consisting of three stories that you can still walk through,
1:18 · this is the amphitheater of El Jem:
1:20 · the largest monument ever built by the Romans in Africa,
1:24 · and it had barely opened when it found itself at the centre
1:27 · of a drama that concerned the entire Empire.
1:31 · today, though, the contrast between the bustling
1:33 · markets and the stoic Colosseum in front of me is almost too surreal to believe.
1:39 · it can really be seen from above, where aerial photography highlights
1:42 · how this city developed around the imposing ancient structure left behind by the Romans
1:47 · after trying to let the initial wave of sheer disbelief that I'm actually stood here pass...
1:53 · well. I don't know what to say. how often do you see something like this?
2:00 · not very often.
2:01 · I spend a minute relaxing outside of it for an
2:04 · espresso with a pretty decent view by anybody's standard
2:08 · and after politely declining a camel ride a few
2:11 · times and drawing a little bit of attention from local children...
2:15 · it's the most surreal thing just turning a corner
2:19 · in a bustling city and seeing a huge well-preserved Coliseum
2:24 · - excuse me sir, you are a YouTuber?
2:25 · you like YouTube?
2:27 · what is name your channel?
2:29 · Tom thornton
2:31 · nice to meet you!
2:32 · nice to meet you too!
2:33 · have a nice day!
2:36 · it was time for me to find out what it's like inside today.
2:40 · the process of buying a ticket, I have to say, is much simpler than the Coliseum in Rome if you've
2:45 · ever been there - no pre-booking, no nonsense just walk up to the counter and within a few seconds
2:51 · I was finding out that what it's like inside today is... in a word... unbelievable. [Music]
3:04 · yeah, I guess this is just here.
3:08 · this place once hosted crowds of over 35,000 people but this morning it was virtually just
3:15 · me wondering around it which was honestly pretty moving this is unreal I've been to historical
3:23 · sites before that are maybe just as impressive as this but are much more famous and much more
3:28 · busy when you come somewhere like this with so few people and you can have a moment to yourself
3:33 · wandering around it actually makes such a huge difference in your ability to yeah imagine it
3:39 · in its day imagine it in its Heyday and kind of taste the yeah the might and the imposing
3:47 · nature of these buildings and what it must have been like to walk around them I think
3:50 · it makes it yeah a bit more tangible when you're not rushed the construction of this
3:54 · Amphitheater enabled the locals to go and watch some good clean fun Gladiators killing each other
4:00 · Gladiators killing slaves people hunting exotic animals that kind of thing but the emperor at
4:05 · the time that it was inaugurated was actually hugely unpopular he' been raising everyone's
4:10 · taxes and the population across the Empire had had enough of him and the Rebellion to
4:15 · overthrow him was actually started right here in an area of Roman Africa that was previously
4:21 · only famous for its olive oil production and the whole thing actually almost worked as they made
4:27 · it as far as crowning a new Roman Emperor right here in this Amphitheater who was even genuinely
4:33 · recognized by the Senate over in Rome who also wanted to see the back of the last guy after the
4:39 · ceremony here in this very building he served as Roman Emperor for about 3 weeks before ending it
4:45 · all and letting someone else have a go at being Emperor for a bit but the Bloodshed here wasn't
4:50 · just limited to gladiatorial contest and nearly not failed rebellions when you walk around it
4:56 · it does seem surprisingly well preserved even that it's almost 2,000 years old but
· The history of El Jem Amphitheater
5:02 · what really caught my attention was learning that we actually came tantalizingly close to
5:07 · having an even more intact version of this place surviving into the modern era it was built so late
5:13 · so close to the decline of Roman Prosperity that it spent far more time being misused as
5:19 · a fortress in various conflicts than it ever spent with Roman Nobles walking down these
5:24 · corridors on their way to see a show less than 200 years after it opened barbarians were well
5:30 · and truly at the gates and the local population used it to shelter against the invading vandals
5:36 · Funnily enough, vandals under the modern definition of the word still seem to be
5:39 · a problem around here but that's another matter the land that we now call Tunisia passed between
5:45 · no fewer than 10 other Empires and dynasties on its path from being controlled by the vandals
5:50 · to the Arabs to the Ottomans that's a lot of invasions and a lot of last stands happening
5:56 · here in this building which definitely Bears the marks of to prove it the side that you can see is
6:02 · most damaged was even eventually deliberately destroyed by one 17th century ottoman ruler to
6:08 · prevent any potential opponents of his from ever using it as a stronghold again so this
6:14 · thing has really had a battle on its hands to remain standing pretty much the only thing
6:19 · that it's ever had going for it is the fact that the hot dry air here is much more conducive to
6:24 · preserving the stones that are left in place than the environment in some other Mediterranean count
6:30 · but even that enabled a couple more centuries of it being seen as a very convenient Quarry from
6:35 · which all of these nicely cut Stones could be looted for use in other construction projects
6:41 · until it finally even suffered more damage at the hands of the Brits and the Germans during
6:45 · the Tunisian campaign of World War II truly the more you read about this place the more it pops
6:51 · up at dark times in history it's another story that makes you grateful to have hit the jackpot
· Thysdrus Amphitheater in the modern era
6:56 · by living in this tiny slice of time that we exist in right now where it's actually being
7:02 · actively appreciated and looked after as the beautiful Relic that it is where its status as
7:07 · a world heritage site and my entry fee of just a few dollars is hopefully all contributing to the
7:13 · ongoing restoration and conservation projects here and where our decisions regarding the future of
7:18 · places like this are more Guided by the principle of keeping them alive for future generations to
7:23 · come and appreciate than by trying to blow them up in fact these days it's more likely that your C
7:29 · catch a classical music performance in here or see it pop up as a shooting location in Monty Python's
7:35 · Life of Brian than it is that you'll actually be fed to the lies in here yourself and that's
7:41 · not a bad era to live in if you ask me as the day went on and the sun began to get hotter and
7:45 · hotter I spent some more time sat up in the stands listening to the court to prayer from a nearby
7:51 · [Music]
7:55 · mosque thinking about the weight of everything that's happened here and the scars that This
8:02 · Magnificent structure still carries from at all if you want my travel recommendations it's honestly
8:08 · worth coming to Tunisia just to see this slightly smaller than the Coliseum in Rome but 1 million
8:14 · times less crowded allowing you to properly take your time to breathe it in in peace and
8:19 · quiet and I honestly count moments like these among the once in a lifetime things that I've
8:24 · been lucky enough to experience and the same contrast hit me again on the way out me walking
8:29 · through the city all excited that I've just seen the great African Coliseum and everyone around me
8:35 · who actually lives here just going about their daily life probably sick and tired of the fact
8:41 · that they have to drive all the way around the great Annoying roundabout to get to work
8:46 · If you'd like to see more from my adventure across Tunisia and learn how you can plan your
8:49 · own trip there, please feel free to subscribe to the channel and watch this video next.

Transcript
0:00	·	this is me on my way to a true wonder of the world
0:03	·	something that has to be seen to be believed
0:06	·	but also something that you've probably never heard of...
0:10	·	I'm currently on a train hurtling through Tunisia on my way to the city of El Jem,
0:15	·	which I've been told is home to a magnificent ancient Roman Amphitheater,
0:19	·	and, yes, I didn't know that there was another Colosseum here in Africa,
0:23	·	either, until I was planning this trip.
0:25	·	by this point, I was just excited to go and see it,
0:27	·	but I had no idea just how significant this place would end up being -
0:32	·	not just in the ancient world,
0:33	·	but also as a shooting location for movies that you probably have heard of.
0:38	·	Pulling into El Jem, anticipation was really building for me,
0:41	·	and as I stepped outside of the lovely old station building,
0:45	·	and started to walk through the city,
0:47	·	I almost reached into my pocket to check a map to see where I was supposed to go -
	·	The Amphitheater of El Jem, Tunisia
0:52	·	until I noticed that that wouldn't actually be necessary:
0:56	·	because no matter what street you go down in this busy town,
1:00	·	you can't ignore the fact that you're being watched over by THIS.
1:05	·	built in the 3rd century, roughly 400 years after the Romans destroyed
1:10	·	Carthage and started their own Empire across Northern Africa,
1:14	·	and consisting of three stories that you can still walk through,
1:18	·	this is the amphitheater of El Jem:
1:20	·	the largest monument ever built by the Romans in Africa,
1:24	·	and it had barely opened when it found itself at the centre
1:27	·	of a drama that concerned the entire Empire.
1:31	·	today, though, the contrast between the bustling
1:33	·	markets and the stoic Colosseum in front of me is almost too surreal to believe.
1:39	·	it can really be seen from above, where aerial photography highlights
1:42	·	how this city developed around the imposing ancient structure left behind by the Romans
1:47	·	after trying to let the initial wave of sheer disbelief that I'm actually stood here pass...
1:53	·	well. I don't know what to say. how often do you see something like this?
2:00	·	not very often.
2:01	·	I spend a minute relaxing outside of it for an
2:04	·	espresso with a pretty decent view by anybody's standard
2:08	·	and after politely declining a camel ride a few
2:11	·	times and drawing a little bit of attention from local children...
2:15	·	it's the most surreal thing just turning a corner
2:19	·	in a bustling city and seeing a huge well-preserved Coliseum
2:24	·	- excuse me sir, you are a YouTuber?
2:25	·	you like YouTube?
2:27	·	what is name your channel?
2:29	·	Tom thornton
2:31	·	nice to meet you!
2:32	·	nice to meet you too!
2:33	·	have a nice day!
2:36	·	it was time for me to find out what it's like inside today.
2:40	·	the process of buying a ticket, I have to say, is much simpler than the Coliseum in Rome if you've
2:45	·	ever been there - no pre-booking, no nonsense just walk up to the counter and within a few seconds
2:51	·	I was finding out that what it's like inside today is... in a word... unbelievable. [Music]
3:04	·	yeah, I guess this is just here.
3:08	·	this place once hosted crowds of over 35,000 people but this morning it was virtually just
3:15	·	me wondering around it which was honestly pretty moving this is unreal I've been to historical
3:23	·	sites before that are maybe just as impressive as this but are much more famous and much more
3:28	·	busy when you come somewhere like this with so few people and you can have a moment to yourself
3:33	·	wandering around it actually makes such a huge difference in your ability to yeah imagine it
3:39	·	in its day imagine it in its Heyday and kind of taste the yeah the might and the imposing
3:47	·	nature of these buildings and what it must have been like to walk around them I think
3:50	·	it makes it yeah a bit more tangible when you're not rushed the construction of this
3:54	·	Amphitheater enabled the locals to go and watch some good clean fun Gladiators killing each other
4:00	·	Gladiators killing slaves people hunting exotic animals that kind of thing but the emperor at
4:05	·	the time that it was inaugurated was actually hugely unpopular he' been raising everyone's
4:10	·	taxes and the population across the Empire had had enough of him and the Rebellion to
4:15	·	overthrow him was actually started right here in an area of Roman Africa that was previously
4:21	·	only famous for its olive oil production and the whole thing actually almost worked as they made
4:27	·	it as far as crowning a new Roman Emperor right here in this Amphitheater who was even genuinely
4:33	·	recognized by the Senate over in Rome who also wanted to see the back of the last guy after the
4:39	·	ceremony here in this very building he served as Roman Emperor for about 3 weeks before ending it
4:45	·	all and letting someone else have a go at being Emperor for a bit but the Bloodshed here wasn't
4:50	·	just limited to gladiatorial contest and nearly not failed rebellions when you walk around it
4:56	·	it does seem surprisingly well preserved even that it's almost 2,000 years old but
	·	The history of El Jem Amphitheater
5:02	·	what really caught my attention was learning that we actually came tantalizingly close to
5:07	·	having an even more intact version of this place surviving into the modern era it was built so late
5:13	·	so close to the decline of Roman Prosperity that it spent far more time being misused as
5:19	·	a fortress in various conflicts than it ever spent with Roman Nobles walking down these
5:24	·	corridors on their way to see a show less than 200 years after it opened barbarians were well
5:30	·	and truly at the gates and the local population used it to shelter against the invading vandals
5:36	·	Funnily enough, vandals under the modern definition of the word still seem to be
5:39	·	a problem around here but that's another matter the land that we now call Tunisia passed between
5:45	·	no fewer than 10 other Empires and dynasties on its path from being controlled by the vandals
5:50	·	to the Arabs to the Ottomans that's a lot of invasions and a lot of last stands happening
5:56	·	here in this building which definitely Bears the marks of to prove it the side that you can see is
6:02	·	most damaged was even eventually deliberately destroyed by one 17th century ottoman ruler to
6:08	·	prevent any potential opponents of his from ever using it as a stronghold again so this
6:14	·	thing has really had a battle on its hands to remain standing pretty much the only thing
6:19	·	that it's ever had going for it is the fact that the hot dry air here is much more conducive to
6:24	·	preserving the stones that are left in place than the environment in some other Mediterranean count
6:30	·	but even that enabled a couple more centuries of it being seen as a very convenient Quarry from
6:35	·	which all of these nicely cut Stones could be looted for use in other construction projects
6:41	·	until it finally even suffered more damage at the hands of the Brits and the Germans during
6:45	·	the Tunisian campaign of World War II truly the more you read about this place the more it pops
6:51	·	up at dark times in history it's another story that makes you grateful to have hit the jackpot
	·	Thysdrus Amphitheater in the modern era
6:56	·	by living in this tiny slice of time that we exist in right now where it's actually being
7:02	·	actively appreciated and looked after as the beautiful Relic that it is where its status as
7:07	·	a world heritage site and my entry fee of just a few dollars is hopefully all contributing to the
7:13	·	ongoing restoration and conservation projects here and where our decisions regarding the future of
7:18	·	places like this are more Guided by the principle of keeping them alive for future generations to
7:23	·	come and appreciate than by trying to blow them up in fact these days it's more likely that your C
7:29	·	catch a classical music performance in here or see it pop up as a shooting location in Monty Python's
7:35	·	Life of Brian than it is that you'll actually be fed to the lies in here yourself and that's
7:41	·	not a bad era to live in if you ask me as the day went on and the sun began to get hotter and
7:45	·	hotter I spent some more time sat up in the stands listening to the court to prayer from a nearby
7:51	·	[Music]
7:55	·	mosque thinking about the weight of everything that's happened here and the scars that This
8:02	·	Magnificent structure still carries from at all if you want my travel recommendations it's honestly
8:08	·	worth coming to Tunisia just to see this slightly smaller than the Coliseum in Rome but 1 million
8:14	·	times less crowded allowing you to properly take your time to breathe it in in peace and
8:19	·	quiet and I honestly count moments like these among the once in a lifetime things that I've
8:24	·	been lucky enough to experience and the same contrast hit me again on the way out me walking
8:29	·	through the city all excited that I've just seen the great African Coliseum and everyone around me
8:35	·	who actually lives here just going about their daily life probably sick and tired of the fact
8:41	·	that they have to drive all the way around the great Annoying roundabout to get to work
8:46	·	If you'd like to see more from my adventure across Tunisia and learn how you can plan your
8:49	·	own trip there, please feel free to subscribe to the channel and watch this video next.